Initiation rattle "ntafu mahangu" · D. R. Congo, Bakongo · ID: 3035977
Philippe and Lisa Laeremans, Liège, Belgium
Description
wood, brown patina, kaolin, a band of fabric wrapped around the figures waists with a glass stone inserted below, drilled hole in one of the figures, the actual rattle elements now missing, min. dam., cracks, missing parts through insect caused damage, slight traces of abrasion, base;
this rattle was an emblem for the initiation camps of young boys called “nkimba”. The back-to-back position stands for duality, refers to this world and the world of the spirits. The rattle was affixed on top of a vessel filled with water symbolizing the passage from the world of the living into the world of the dead.
The object Initiation rattle “ntafu mahangu” with the object ID 3035977 was last part of the auction 75th tribal art auction at November 30, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 388.
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Comparing literature
Felix, Marc L. (ed.), Kongo Kingdom Art, China 2003, p. 107, ill. 2.7
Publications
Laeremans, Lisa & Philippe, Bakongo, Brussels 2011